Afghan Forces Soon to Launch Winter Offensive against Militants: MoD

Afghan security forces to launch winter military operation against militants in the near future, abandoning a tradition of suspending fighting during the colder months of the year.

As part of “Operation Khalid”, the offensive will be carried out in Kandahar, Helmand, Badakhshan, Ghazni, Uruzgan, Nangarhar, Nooristan, Faryab and Ghazni in a bid to retake the territories and suppress militants in these provinces, officials said.

“Our combat operations will be carried out in the areas which are being controlled by the enemies and the areas which are under high security threat, particularly, in the districts in border regions,” the Defense Ministry Spokesman, Dawlat Waziri said.

According to Defense Ministry, the following districts are under control of the Taliban: Yamgan and Wardoj in Badakhshan, Ghormach in Faryab , Kohistanat in Sar-e-Pul, Baghran, Desho and Nawzad in Helmand, Khak Afghan in Zabul and Dawa in southern Ghazni province.